Spaceships of the Future

Credit: Adrian Mann

Hungary-based space illustrator Adrian Mann is a graphical engineer for Project Icarus, an effort to research the possibilities for interstellar travel.…Read More »

When scientists conceive of spaceships for travel to another star, most proposals require advanced and exotic propulsion mechanisms, including nuclear power and antimatter power. The following illustrations by Mann show some of the proposed concepts for vehicles to take us beyond the solar system. Less «

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Saturn Rockets

Credit: Adrian Mann

During the Apollo program, NASA investigated many options for uprating the Saturn V, from stretching the 1st stage to adding enormous solid rocket boosters,…Read More »

and even a nuclear powered upper stage – NERVA – that could be used for missions to Mars. Less «

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NERVA Spacecraft

Credit: Adrian Mann

Two nuclear powered NERVA spacecraft being assembled in orbit, with the crew being ferried with an early design space shuttle, for the journey to Mars.

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Orion Spacecraft

Credit: Adrian Mann

The Saturn V could also have carried an Orion spacecraft to orbit. Powered by nuclear explosions, the Orion spacecraft leaves orbit for Mars.

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Orion Mars Spacecraft

Credit: Adrian Mann

The Orion Mars spacecraft shown here has a crew accommodation section, 2 Mars landers in the form of lifting bodies, and enough small nuclear devices to propel the ship to and from Mars.

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SuperOrion

Credit: Adrian Mann

Given the colossal power of nuclear explosions, enormous Orion ships were envisaged, to be launched from remote desert areas such as Jackass Flats in the Nevada Test Range.

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Bussard Funnel

Credit: Adrian Mann

The major problem with trying to devise a ship to travel between the stars is that of fuel. Robert Bussard devised a ship that would use a huge magnetic…Read More »

funnel to collect hydrogen from space to use as fuel in an interstellar ramjet. Less «

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Bussard Funnel Thrust

Credit: Adrian Mann

While Bussard's spacecraft concept looks appealing, calculations have shown that the thrust of the engine may not be enough to overcome drag caused by the magnetic funnel.

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Daedelus Complete

Credit: Adrian Mann

During the early 1970s, a team from the British Interplanetary Society carried out the world’s first serious engineering study of an interstellar vehicle – Project Daedalus.

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Daedelus in Flight

Credit: Adrian Mann

Daedalus was conceived as a two-stage vehicle, which would attain a speed of 12 percent of the speed of light, for a 50-year voyage to reach Barnard's Star.

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Daedelus and Saturn V

Credit: Adrian Mann

Weighing in at 60,000 tons when fully fuelled, Daedalus would dwarf even the Saturn V rocket.

Daedalus Fuel

During Daedalus' two years of first stage engine firing, empty fuel tanks are jettisoned to reduce weight.

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Daedalus Split

Credit: Adrian Mann

Once all Daedalus' first stage fuel is consumed, the first stage is jettisoned and the second stage continues to accelerate for another 1.8 years – the…Read More »

vehicle now coasts, unpowered, for the remainder of the 50-year voyage. Less «

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Daedelus Second Stage

Credit: Adrian Mann

Daedalus' second stage carries radio telescopes, 2 5m optical telescopes, 18 probes, two autonomous spacecraft known as Wardens, computers, power supplies and a Beryllium erosion shield.

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Daedalus Flyby

Credit: Adrian Mann

Daedalus' flyby of the target system would be over in a matter of hours, the data being relayed back to Earth, using the engine bell as a parabolic radio antenna.

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Vacuum to Antimatter Rocket Interstellar Explorer System

Credit: Adrian Mann

VARIES – Vacuum to Antimatter Rocket Interstellar Explorer System, is a concept from Richard Obousy that would use enormous solar arrays to generate power…Read More »

for extremely powerful lasers, which, when fired at empty space, would create particles of antimatter which could be stored and used as fuel. The process would be used at the vehicle's destination to create fuel for the return journey. Less «

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Daedalus Construct

Credit: Adrian Mann

It was envisaged that the Daedalus starship would be constructed in orbit around the Jovian moon Europa.

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Project Icarus

Credit: Adrian Mann

Project Icarus is looking again at interstellar spacecraft, in the light of new developments in physics, materials and astronomy. A series of smaller test…Read More »

SKYLON's Capabilities

Reaction engines have devised a series of modules to demonstrate the proposed spaceship SKYLON's capabilities. Here, a space station has been assembled…Read More »

using docking, habitation, power, airlock and laboratory modules. Less «

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Orbiting Hotel

Credit: Adrian Mann

With the addition of two inflatable modules, an orbiting hotel could be created for up to 20 guests by the concept vehicle SKYLON.

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SKYLON & Fluyt

Credit: Adrian Mann

With additional modules, a refuelling base could be constructed for ‘Fluyt’ orbital transfer vehicles by the SKYLON craft.

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Fluyt Orbital Transfer Vehicles

Credit: Adrian Mann

The Fluyt orbital transfer vehicles could also be used to construct and service large geostationary communications platforms.

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Fluyt

Credit: Adrian Mann

At the end of 2008, a feasibility study began into the use of a space-based Orbital Transfer Vehicle named Fluyt in order to investigate the performance…Read More »

of a reusable rocket stage that would be permanently based in low-Earth orbit. Less «

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Orbital Base Station

Credit: Adrian Mann

The concept of an Orbital Base Station (OBS) was studied to demonstrate that large, highly modular structures could be built in low-Earth orbit, providing…Read More »

accommodation for the crews, protection from orbital debris, continuous internal lighting and propellant storage. Such a facility would enable large ships for the exploration of the moon and Mars to be constructed. Less «

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Troy Mission

Credit: Adrian Mann

The proposed Troy mission is envisaged to be performed in two parts: an unmanned, precursor mission, and the later manned mission. Using SKYLON, the elements…Read More »

for the Troy ships are delivered to an Orbital Base Station, where the components are assembled. Less «

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Troy Vehicle

Credit: Adrian Mann

The proposed Troy vehicle's transit time to Mars would be 264 days, and on arrival, the three landing modules would be deployed to land at a pre-selected…Read More »

site, forming a base. Three precursor ships would be sent, forming three bases on Mars that would enable the rovers to reach more than 90 percent of the Martian surface. Less «